An animal bedding composition and method of manufacture includes cut or shredded
pieces of multiple panel corrugated cardboard kraft paper structures having an
internal corrugated panel sandwiched between outer panels, and an adsorptive deodorizing
ion exchange agent such as a zeolite dispersed throughout the cardboard pieces
and carried on outer and inner surfaces of the pieces of cardboard and on outer
and inner surfaces of the corrugations to provide a comfortable, hygienic and deodorized
floor covering for animal stalls. An automated method of manufacturing the animal
bedding composition is also described. The ion exchange agent attaches to surfaces
of the corrugated cardboard which serves as a carrier to sanitize and deodorize
a stall. The open structure of the cut corrugations provides mechanical load absorption,
and a wicking action to aerate moisture from a stall. The ion exchange agent carried
by the corrugated pieces removes ammonia odor from urine and provides slow release
potassium and, when loaded with ammonium, slow release of nitrogen for agricultural
fertilization. Carbon in the kraft paper from which the corrugated cardboard is
constructed attracts nitrogen from urine, yielding excellent fertilizing material
with rapid biodegradation.